Bracteantha plant named ‘Yellow’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Bracteantha plant named ‘Yellow’, characterized by its yellow involucral bracts, yellow disc florets, upright mounded growth habit, and dark green leaves.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Bracteantha bracteata.

VARIETY DEMONINATIION

‘Yellow’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct Bracteantha plant,botanically know as Bracteantha bracteata and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Yellow’.

The new cultivar was developed by the inventor through a controlledbreeding program Mar. 1, 1998, at New South Wales, Australia.

The female (seed) parent of ‘Yellow’ was the cultivar ‘Nullabor Flame’(not patented in the United States) characterized by it tall habit andlarge numbers of bracts. The male (pollen) parent of ‘Yellow’ was thecultivar ‘Diamond Head’ (not patented in the United States)characterized by its semi-prostrate habit and low number of bracts.‘Yellow’ was selected as one of the flowering progeny of the above crossAug. 1, 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings, at WestChicago, Ill., has demonstrated that the characteristics of the newcultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

(a) Exhibits yellow involucral bracts and yellow disc florets;

(b) forms dark green foliage;

(c) exhibits a good basal branching character; and

(d) exhibits an upright mounded growth habit.

When the new cultivar of the present invention is compared to ‘Cream’(disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/819,340) it isfound that the new cultivar has slightly smaller leaves and slightlysmaller flowers of a darker yellow color. The new cultivar can also becompared to ‘Gold ‘N’ Bronze’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,193). However, inside by side comparisons, the new cultivar has lighter bract color. Whencompared to its sibling, ‘Copper’, the new cultivar has much lighterbract color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. The photographillustrates two plants in one pot, grown for 10 weeks in a greenhouse atWest Chicago, Ill.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The Yellow cultivar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such astemperature, light intensity, and day length.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.The color values were determined on Feb. 15, 2002. The readings weretaken between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. under natural daylight conditions.The plants were produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and weregrown for 12 weeks in a double polycarbonate covered greenhouse underconditions comparable to those used in commercial practice whileutilizing a soilless growth medium. Temperatures of approximately 65° to75° (18° to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 55° to 60° F. (13°to 16° C.) during the night and light levels of between 5,000 and 8,000footcandles were maintained.

Classification:

Botanical.—Bracteantha bracteata, cultivar ‘Yellow’.

Commercial.—Helichrysum.

Parentage:

Female parent.—‘Nullabor Flame’.

Male parent.—‘Diamond Head’.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal tip.

Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 21 to 30 days with the shortertimes generally being experienced in the summer and the longer times inthe winter.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright, mounded.

Habit of growth.—Moderate. A mature plant, 12 weeks after the plantingof a rooted cutting, commonly measures approximately 15.2 cm in heightand approximately 41 8 cm in diameter.

Branching habit.—Freely basal branching although pinching improves basalbranching. Commonly develops approximately 5 lateral branches.

Lateral branch.—Length: Approximately 19.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5mm with hirsute pubescence. Color: 145B. Internode length: Approximately6 mm.

Foliage.—Arrangement: Alternate. Shape: Linear with entire margin, acuteapex and clasping base. Size: Approximately 4.8 cm in length andapproximately 6 mm at widest point. Upper surface is rough and 137A.Lower surface is smooth 137C. Midvein on lower surface is moderatelypubescent. Venation of both surfaces: Closest to 144C.

Flowering description:

Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.

Natural flowering season.—Spring through fall.

Flower description:

Inflorescence type.—Single, composite.

Bud.—Size: 2 cm in length, 1.9 cm in diameter. Color: 168B at tip and162D at base.

Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 3.6 cm.

Involucral bracts.—Quantity: Approximately 106, arranged in 10 whorls.Aspect: Appear flat at maturity then become downwardly pointing withage. Texture: Smooth, papery. Shape: Linear. Size: Length — 1.4 cm,width varies from 1 mm (inner whorl) to 4 mm (outer whorl). Color —Upper surface, fully opened: Outer 2 (two) whorls are 14A with 170A attip; 3^(rd) whorl is 14A with 23A at tip; inner whorls are 14A. Lowersurface: 168B at tip and 162D at base.

Disc diameter.—1.2 cm.

Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm.

Peduncle.—Length: Approximately 5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2 mm.Strength: Good. Aspect: Erect. Color: 146B. Texture: Puberulent.

Fragrance.—None.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium — Stamen number: 1. Anther color: 24APollen color: 21A. Gynoecium: Pistil number: 1. Pistil length: 9 mm.Stigma shape: Bilobate. Stigma color: 20A. Style length: Approximately 4mm. Style color: 1B.

Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Helichrysum has notbeen observed.

Seed development: Seed development has not been observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Bractheantha plant named‘Yellow’ substantially as herein shown and described, which: (a)exhibits yellow involucral bracts and yellow disc florets; (b) formsdark green foliage; (c) exhibits a good basal branching character; and(d) exhibits an upright mounded growth habit.